GdP Saarland welcomes new federal police law, calls for personnel and technology

The police union (GdP) in Saarland welcomes the new federal police law and demands that the federal government meet the requirements for its application in practice. “A modern law alone does not create additional security,” said Roland Voss, deputy chairman of the GdP Saarland Federal Police district group, to the German Press Agency. “Anyone who gives the federal police new powers must also provide them with sufficient personnel, modern technology and the necessary budget resources.”

The reform passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat modernizes, among other things, the powers in the defense of dangerous drones, telecommunications surveillance, reporting requirements and residence bans as well as controls in weapon and knife ban zones. The foundations are also being created for new technical options for averting danger.

Additional requirement of 200 forces

“The security situation in 2026 cannot be managed with legal instruments from the 1990s. This step was long overdue,” said Voss. Modern legal and technical options are particularly important for the federal police in Saarland with their tasks at the borders with France and Luxembourg, in cross-border rail traffic and at Saarbrücken Airport. An important step has been taken with the new Federal Police Act, but now the personnel and technical equipment must follow.

The union sees a need for at least 200 additional officers in addition to the existing 500 officers "in order to be able to carry out border and railway police tasks permanently and reliably." We are already heavily dependent on support today. The situation will be made worse in the future by age-related departures.

Modern vehicles and drone technology required

In addition to increasing personnel, appropriate technical support is needed: According to Voss, primarily modern vehicles for mobile border controls, but also powerful search and license plate recognition technology and mobile checkpoints. At the same time, the deputy GdP chairman demanded that the federal police themselves be able to make greater use of modern drone technology. This could help to monitor large areas more efficiently and deploy emergency services in a more targeted manner.

Particular attention is paid to Saarbrücken Airport. There, the federal police carry out tasks at the European external border, and critical infrastructure is also involved. In addition, cooperation with France and Luxembourg is becoming increasingly important, said Voss. “For this we need personnel reserves and modern mobile technology - not a staffing level that is already completely tied up in basic daily operations.”